中国著名神话故事绘本系列》是五洲传播出版社出版的儿童英语读物。图书为四色印刷，图画优美，文字简明流畅，寓教于乐，适合7-14岁的中外少年儿童阅读，培养阅读兴趣。让孩子可以学习英语、提高词汇量和增强语感，同时也能够了解中国传统文化，丰富阅历，学习传统美德。
今天，我们给大家分享的是《女娲造人》（Nǚwa Creating Human Beings）节选。女娲是中国上古神话中的创世女神。又称娲皇、女阴，史记女娲氏，是华夏民族人文先始，是福佑社稷之正神。相传女娲造人，一日中七十化变，以黄泥仿照自己抟土造人，创造人类社会并建立婚姻制度；因世间天塌地陷，于是熔彩石以补苍天，斩鳖足以立四极，留下了女娲补天的神话传说。女娲不但是补天救世的英雌和抟土造人的女神，还是一个创造万物的自然之神，神通广大化生万物，每天至少能创造出七十样东西。她开世造物，因此被称为大地之母，是被民间广泛而又长久崇拜的创世神和始母神。
According to legend, after Pangu, creator of the world, separated the murky chaos of the universe into the sky and the earth, he passed away and his body was transformed into the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky. On earth, he becas the mountains, rivers, lakes and oceans, as well as the trees, the grass and the flowers. Pangus soul was transformed into animals, birds, fish and insects. What used to be a dull and quiet world sprang to life with activity.
相传，自从盘古把混沌的世界分出了天地，死后身躯化作日月星辰、山川草木、江河湖海，精神化成了鸟兽鱼虫后，一片死寂的世界就变得生机勃勃了。
One day, the goddess, Nǚwa descended on earth. She was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the world in front of her. As she gazed around, she saw the rising mountain ranges, the forests lush with green grass and bushes and herds of wild animals roaming freely across the earth. As the colourful birds flew overhead in the sky, Nuwa was mesmerised by the magnificence of the scenery.
这天，一位叫女的女神来到世间，她被眼前美丽的世界震撼了。放眼望去，周围山峦起伏，草木丛林茂密，地上有成群的野兽在奔跑，天上飞着五颜六色的鸟儿。女娲不由地陶醉在了眼前的美景之中。
However, after walking alone in the great wilderness, Nǚwafelt sad. She tried talking to the grass and to the trees to share her feelings and was met with no response. The trees only swayed silently in the wind. She tried to tell the animals how she feltbut they could not understand her pain. Nǚwa felt more and more lonely.
可是没过多久，走在茫茫原野上的女蜗就感到寂寞了。她和脚下的草木说心里话，可草木只知道随风摆动；她向遇到的鸟兽倾吐感伤，可鸟兽也没法理解她的苦恼。女娲越来越觉得孤单了。
One day, Nǚwa was tired after walking aimlessly around the earth and sat down beside a pond to rest. She noticed her own reflection in the water of the pond. When she winked. her reflection winked back. When she smiled her reflection smiled.
一天，女娲走累了，无精打彩地坐在一个池塘边休息。这时，她注意到了池塘中自己美丽的倒影。她忧郁地皱眉，水中的影子也皱眉；她微笑，水中的影子也微笑。
Nǚwa suddenly realised what was missing. "Of course! 'She said to herself, The world has everything but it's missing someone like me! Why don't I create a person to add to this world?
女蜗猛然觉得心头的苦闷解开了，她自言自语地说：“对呀，这世上几乎什么都有了，却偏偏缺少了和我一样的生物，所以オ不够完美啊！那我为什么不创造一种这样的生物，加入这个世界呢？”
Nǚwa's spirits were immediately lifted when she thought of the idea. She gathered some yellow clay from the riverbank and added some water. With the help of her reflection in the pond, Nǚwa set upon mixing the clay together.
想到这里，女蜗马上来了精神。她从池塘边挖了些黄泥，搀上水，照着池塘里倒映出来的自己的样子，专心地捏了起来。
It wasn't long before Nǚwa created a little clay figure with her delicate hands. Nǚwa had made the figure just like herself, with a body and a head, with arms and legs, with eyes, mouths and ears. Nothing was missing.
不一会儿，心灵手巧的女蜗就捏好了一个小泥人儿。这个小泥人儿和女娲一样，身躯四肢，五官七窍，一样都不少。
Nǚwa happily placed the little figure in her hand and blew a gentle puff of air its way. Then she put it on the ground.
女蜗开心地把这个小东西捧在手上，对着她小心翼翼地吹了口气，然后把她放在了地上。
Magically, the little figure came to life once its feet touched the ground. It stretched its little arms and legs and curiously looked around the colourful world that surrounded her. Then, when she saw Nǚwa, she shouted with happiness and excitement, "Mother! Mother!"
真是神奇啊！这个泥捏的小家伙，双脚刚一落地就活了！她舒展着小小的胳膊和腿，好奇地看着眼前这个五彩缤纷的世界，接着又兴高采烈地朝女娲喊道：“妈妈！妈妈！”
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想要阅读完整的故事，可以购买这本由五洲传播出版社发行的双语绘本《马头琴》。《中国著名神话故事绘本系列》也包括了其他中国古代的神话故事，凝聚了华夏儿女的智慧和丰富的想象力。包括《精卫填海》、《嫦娥奔月》、《百鸟朝凤》、《牛郎织女》等。
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